Jaw pulling apparatus



April 9, 1963 c. D. MACY ETAL JAW PULLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1961 wam 4170M,

April 9, 1963 c. D. MACY ETAL 3,084,378

JAW PULLING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1961 2 Sheets-She et 2 3,684,378 .lAW PULLING APPARATUS Christian D. Macy and Oscar H. Lindstrom, both of Anstin, Minn, assignors to Geo. A. Hormel & Company, Austin, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 21, 1961, Ser. No. 125,731 7 (Ilaims. (Cl. 17-1) The invention relates to high capacity apparatus for effectively separating the lower jaw from the head of an animal, such as a pig, in a manner to minimize breakage of jaw bones and other damage to the animals head.

One of the steps involved in the processing of slaughtercd animals, especially hogs, is that of separating the lower jaw from the remaining portion of the anirnals head. This is done after the tongue has been removed and the head skinned, chiseled and templed. The separation is presently accomplished by swinging the jaws apart to forcibly separate the lower jaw from the upper jaw at the condylar joints. Machines have been developed for performing this jaw-separating process, some of these machines being of the continuously operable type. It has been found that in some of these prior art devices, there is a large incidence of breakage of the bones especially the mandible, resulting in considerable loss of usable material. During operation of these prior art devices, the body of the mandible is engaged by a feed mechanism which pulls the head over a separating horn thus forcibly pulling the lower jaw from the head. These machines, however, do not angularly swing the jaws sufiiciently enough to rotate the mandibular condyles from their respective glenoid cavities. The pulling force, which is applied at both the body of the mandible and across the condylar joints, is of suflicient magnitude to break the mandible and maxillary bones at these points. Furthermore, these machines while being constructed for continuous operation are not capable of high capacity production.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a novel, high capacity jaw separating apparatus, of highly efiicient construction and operation, for rapidly and effectively separating the lower jaw from the head of an animal, such as a hog, while minimizing any tendency towards breakage of the jaw bones.

Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus of high commercial capacity which may be utilized for substantially continuous operation and production and which has a jaw separating structure including a pair of jaw-engaging surfaces divergently arranged for causing angular swinging and separation of the jaw bone at the condylar joints, and means for applying pressure and lateral spreading of the condylar joints simultaneously during angular swinging of the jaw bones to cause the mandibular condyles to be rotated out of engagement with their respective joint cavities, thus facilitating final separation of the lower jaw.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a jaw pulling apparatus of the class described wherein the rear portion of the animals head is positively engaged and pushed, snout-first, longitudinally of the jaw-separating structure, thus insuring smooth and gradual swinging of the jaw, and thereby minimizing the force exerted at the weakest points of the mandible so that separation is easily and effectively accomplished.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of our invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the jaw separating Patented Apr. 9, 1963 structure, the separation of the lower jaw from the head of a hog being illustrated in a sequential diagrammatic fashion;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and look ing in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along line 55 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along line 66 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 7--7 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that one embodiment of our jaw pulling apparatus, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, is there shown. Jaw pulling apparatus 10 includes a supporting frame 11 consisting in a plurality of vertically disposed supporting frame elements 12. It will be noted that the forwardmost vertical frame element 13 is of large channel shape construction while the remaining vertical frame elements are of angular construction. The supporting frame 11 also includes a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially horizontal frame elements 14 and elongate longitudinally-extending inclined frame elements 14a.

An elongate, generally inclined jaw-separating structure 15 is rigidly secured and supported from adjacent the front portion of the supporting frame 11 and extends rearwardly therefrom. It will be noted that in side elevation the inclined jaw-separating structure 15 is of L-shaped configuration and it is provided adjacent its forwardmost end with out-turned lateral mounting flanges 16 suitably apertured for connection to correspondingly shaped mounting flanges 17, also suitably apertured, on the channel frame element .13. These mounting flanges are suitably secured together by bolt assemblies 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the jaw separating structure is centrally located with respect to the sides of the supporting frame 11 and is also disposed adjacent the top of the supporting frame. It will further be noted that the lowermost of the inclined frame elements 14a are provided with arcuately converging, forwardly extending portions 14b which are rigidly connected with the depending forward portion of the jaw separating structure 15, to thereby reinforce this forward portion of the jaw separating structure.

Referring now to FIGS. .3 to 7, it will be seen that the jaw separating structure 15 extends longitudinally upwardly from its rear, substantially horizontal portion 1? and terminates in a downwardly terminal forward portion. It will also be noted that the jaw engaging structure 15 includes a jaw engaging surface 2% for engaging the lower jaw bone, or mandible, of the animals head, and a jaw engaging surface 21 for engaging the maxillary or upper jaw bone of the animals head. These jaw engaging surfaces Zli and 21 diverge forwardly and cooperate with each other during operation of the apparatus to cause angular swinging movement of the upper and lower jaw upon longitudinal movement of the animals head along this supporting structure. This angular swinging movement of the upper and lower jaws of the hogs head causes the mandibular condyles to be rotated out of engagement with their respective glenoid cavities prior to final separation of the lower jaw from the upper jaw. It is pointed out that after the mandibular condyles are disengaged from the joint cavities, final separation of the lower jaw from the animals head may be accomplished by further angular swinging movement between the respective upper and lower jaws.

It will be noted, as best seen in FIGS. 4 to 7, that the jaw separating structure .15 is provided with means for applying outward, lateral pressure on the condylar joints to thereby spread the joints apart simultaneously with angular swinging movement of the upper and lower jaw bones. This means includes a pair of longitudinally ere tending laterally projecting wings 22 which are affixed to the jaw-separating structure adjacent the lower edge thereof. It will be noted that the laterally projecting wings are of arcuate configuration with the convex surfaces 22a defined thereby being disposed upwardly. Surfaces 22a apply outward lateral pressure on the condylar joints as the head is moved longitudinally forward along structure 15. It will be noted that the widths or radius of the laterally projecting wings progressively increase forwardly. Thus, the lateral pressure on the condylar joints is proportionately increased as the animals head is moved along the structure 15 and as the upper and lower jaws are angularly swung apart. Referring again to FIG. 3, it will be seen that final separation of the lower jaw from the animals head is accomplished adjacent the terminal forward portion 24 of the jaw separating structure 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5 it will be seen that the width of the jaw-engaging surface narrows considerably intermediate its length as at 20a. This narrowed portion 20a of the jaw-engaging surface 20 accommodates the recess defined by the diverging mandibular rama adjacent the mandibular symphysis without exerting undue outward pressure adjacent these areas. The outward pressure exerted on the mandibular rarna is applied adjacent the mandibular condyles during the angular swinging movement of the upper and lower jaws. This arrange ment greatly reduces the danger of breaking the mandible adjacent the mandibular symphysis.

Means are also provided for moving the animals head longitudinally of the jaw separating structure 15 and this means includes an endless chain conveyor mechanism 25. This conveyor mechanism 25 is comprised of an endless chain conveyor 26 consisting in a plurality of interconnected chain links 26a, each link having a U-shaped positioning and retaining member 27 atfixed thereto for movement therewith. The chain conveyor mechanism 25 also includes a plurality of arcuately shaped pusher lugs 28, these lugs being disposed in predetermined spaced-apart relation with respect to each other. The arcuate configuration of the lugs 28 permits these lugs to engage the rear portion or base of the skull of the animals head and to urge the animals head longitudinally of the jaw-separating structure 15 while preventing any lateral movement of the animals head.

The endless chain conveyor 26 is trained over a front sprocket 29 and a rear sprocket 30 and rotation of the sprockets causes driving of the chain. The front sprocket 29 is provided with a shaft 31 which is supported in a suitable bearing 32, the latter being mounted on the lowermost of the inclined frame elements 14a. Rear sprocket 30 is also provided with a shaft 33 suitably journaled in a bearing 34 mounted on the rearmost portion of the lower, inclined frame element 14a.

Means are also provided for driving the conveyor mechanism 25 and this drive means includes a motor 35 suitably mounted on a platform 14c suitably secured to the horizontally disposed, longitudinally extending frame elements 14. Motor 35 is provided with a shaft 36 having a drive sprocket 37 atfixed thereto. A larger driven sprocket 38 is secured to shaft 31 of sprocket 29 and a drive chain 39 is trained'over sprockets 37 and 38. It will be noted thatsince the driven sprocket 38 is substantially larger than the drive sprocket 37, a speed reduction effect is accomplished therebetween. Thus, when drive chain 39 is driven by the drive sprocket 37, the front sprocket 29 drives the conveyor mechanism 25.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the conveyor mechanism 25 is positioned forwardly of the 4 rearmost end of the portion 19 of the jaw separating structure 15. It will, therefore, be seen that when an animals head is positioned upon the rear portion 19 of the jaw separating structure 15, the head must be moved forwardly before it is engaged by the conveyor mechanism. Means are provided for feeding the animals head forwardly along the jaw-separating structure 15 for subsequent engagement by the endless conveyor mechanism 25. This feed mechanism 40 includes an endless chain 41 having a plurality of elongate jaw-engaging fingers 42 atiixed thereto and spaced a predetermined distance apart. Chain 41 is trained over a front sprocket 43 and a rear sprocket 44, as best seen in FIG. 1. It will be noted that front sprocket 43 is provided with a shaft 45, the latter being journaled in bearings 46; and that rear sprocket 44 is provided with a sprocket shaft 47 also suitably journaled in bearings 48. Bearings 46 and 48 are suitably supported on the uppermost of the inclined frame elements 14a.

Means are also provided for driving the feed mechanism 4t and this means includes a relatively large drive sprocket 49 afiixed to the rear sprocket shaft 33 of the endless conveyor mechanism 25. A relatively small driven sprocket 50 is disposed between the front and rear sprockets 43 and 44 respectively of the feed mechanism 40. The driven sprocket 50 is provided with a shaft 51 suitably journaled in bearings 52, the latter being mounted on plates 14c carried by the uppermost of the inclined frame elements 14a. A drive chain 53 is trained over the drive sprocket 49 and the driven sprocket 59, the differential in sizes of the drive and driven sprocket permitting the feed mechanism to be of a predetermined speed with respect to the conveyor mechanism 25. A gear 54 is affixed to shaft 51 and is in meshing engagement with the gear 55 which is afixed to the shaft 47 of the rear sprocket 44, as best seen in FIG. 2. Thus when the conveyor mechanism 25 is driven, the driving connection between the conveyor mechanism and the feed mechanism also causes the feed mechanism to be driven. It is pointed out that the driven connection between the conveyor mechanism 25 and the feed mechanism 40 is such that synchronized movement of the jaw engaging fingers 42 and the pusher lugs 28 is accomplished. It will also be noted that the lower flight or run of the feed mechanism chain 41 and the upper flight of the conveyor mechanism chain 26 are disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to the jaw separating structure 15. It will also be noted that a channel-shaped pan 56 is affixed to the rearmost of the vertically extending frame elements 12 and serves to support a supply of animal heads thereon to facilitate the feeding of heads on the jaw structure.

During the operation of our jaw pulling apparatus, an operator will position the head of a hog upon the rear horizontal portion 19 of the jaw separating structure 15. The animals head will be disposed upon this rear portion 19 so that the mandible or lower joint is in straddling relation with respect to the jaw separating structure. The upper jaw will be positioned below the lowermost surface of the rear portion 19 of the jaw separating structure so that the skull is disposed downwardly. When the motor 35 is energized, the conveyor mechanism 25 will be driven so that the upper flight or run of the chain is moved forwardly relative to the jaw separating structure 15, the lower flight of the feed mechanism 40 also moving in a direction forwardly of the jaw separating structure 15. The elongate fingers 42 of the feed mechanism 40 will engage the body of the mandible and will pull the mandible forwardly along the inclined jaw separating structure 15. The feed mechanism 41 is so synchronized with respect to the conveyor chain 26 that the elongate fingers 42 will be positioned just forwardly of one of the arcuately shaped pusher lugs 28. With this arrangement, the animals head will be pulled by one of the fingers 42 forwardly of one of the pusher lugs 28. Upon release of the finger 42 from the mandible of the animals head engaged thereby, the head will move slightly rearwardly and downwardly on the jaw-separating structure 15 because of the action of gravity until the base of the skull of the animals head is engaged by the arcuate pusher lug 28. This arrangement permits an even and continuous feed of the heads upon the jaw-separating structure.

The arcuately shaped pusher lug 28 cooperates with the U-shaped positioning and retaining members 27 to prevent lateral shifting or twisting of the animals head during longitudinal movement of the head along the jawseparating structure 15. The pusher lug 28 moves the animals head along the jaw-separating structure and the divergent jaw-engaging surfaces 20 and 21 cause the jaws to be swung angularly apart. This progressive swinging of the upper and lower jaws causes the mandibular condyles to be completely moved out of their respective glenoid cavities prior to final separation of the lower jaw from the animals head. The laterally projecting wings and their respective arcuate surfaces 22a apply outward lateral pressure on the condylar joints during angular swinging of the upper and lower jaws so that these condylar joints are pushed outwardly apart. Application of this lateral pressure and spreading of the joints minimizes the force exerted at the weakest points of the upper and lower jaws, that is the body of the mandible and at the condylar joints. Since the condylar joints are spread apart during angular swinging of the jaws, the joints are maintained in a position to facilitate natural and ready rotation of the condyles out of the glenoid cavities. Because of the application of lateral pressure simultaneously with angular swinging of the jaws, there is very little pulling force exerted by the condyles across the bone structure defining the glenoid cavities. Further, since the body of the mandibles is not maintained in a predetermined position, the mandible is free to rotate so that angular spreading results in complete disengagement of the mandibular condyles from the glenoid cavities prior to the final separation of the lower jaw from upper jaw. Further longitudinal movement of the animals head, after disengagement of the mandibular condyles from the glenoid cavities, results in complete separation of the lower jaw from the upper jaw, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The supporting frame 11 may also be provided with a grate type support 70, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, for receiving the head of the animal after separation of the lower jaw therefrom. This grate support includes a transverse support element 71 suitably secured to the upright frame element 13 as by welding. A plurality of laterally and downwardly extending grate elements 72 are secured to the support element 71. It will be noted that the grate support 70 is disposed below the forward terminal portion of the jaw separating structure 15 and receives the head portion of the animal after separation of the lower jaw to direct the head downwardly and outwardly from the device.

The pushing engagement of the arcuately shaped pusher lugs 28 with the base of the skull of the animals head permits the animals head to be moved along the jaw separating structure while leaving the mandible free to completely rotate during the jaw separating process. 'Further, the broad arcuate surface of the pusher lugs engages the large broad surface area of the base of the skull so that there is no concentrated force exerted on the animals head. With this arrangement there is very little if any breakage of the bones of the skull during the jawseparating operation. Further, the substantially straight longitudinal motion of the jaw-separating operation permits rapid processing with a minimum of loss through breakage.

Because of the synchronized arrangement of the feed mechanism and conveyor mechanism, our jaw pulling apparatus will be operated continuously and as quickly as the operator can place the heads of the hogs upon the rearmost horizontal portion 19 of the jaw-separating structure 15.

It, therefore, will be seen from the foregoing description that we have provided a novel jaw-pulling apparatus which is continuously operable for rapidly and etfectively separating the lower jaw from the head of an animal such as a hog. The operation of the apparatus, as noted from the foregoing description, is such that the lower jaw or mandible is angularly swung relative to the head of the animal to cause the mandibular condyles to be completely disengaged from their respective glenoid cavities prior to complete separation of the lower jaw from the animals head.

It will, therefore, be seen from the preceding paragraphs that separation of the mandibular condyles from their joint cavities facilitates final separation of the lower jaw from the animals head and minimizes any tendency of breakage of the bones.

It will further be seen that because of the rapid, continuous and highly effective manner of operation of our novel jaw pulling apparatus, the apparatus is ideally suited for commercial meat packing establishments. It will be seen from the foregoing description that we have provided a novel jaw pulling apparatus which is not only of simple and highly efiicient operation and construction, but which functions in a more efiicient manner than any heretofore known comparable devices.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various parts without departing from the general scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Jaw pulling apparatus for use in separating the lower jaw from the head of an animal such as a hog, said apparatus comprising :an elongate jaw-separating structure having jaw-engaging surf-aces for engaging, respectively, the upper and lower jaws of the animals head and with the animals head being inverted to dispose the lower jaw uppermost, said surfaces being first gradually longitudinally divergent from one end towards the other end of said jaw-separating structure and cooperating with each other when the animals head is moved longitudinally along said structure to cause the upper and lower jaws to be progressively swung, angularly apart and thereby rotate the mandibular condyles out of their respective joint cavities prior to complete separation of the lower jaw from the head, said surfaces then diverging sharply adjacent said other end of said jaw-separating structure, means on said structure for applying outward lateral pressure on the condylar joints to thereby spread the joints laterally apart simultaneously with angular swinging movement of the upper and lower jaws, and mechanism for engaging the rear portion of the animals head for support thereof to push the head, snout-first, longitudinally along said jawsepanating structure.

2. Jaw pulling apparatus for use in separating the lower jaw from the head of an animal, such as a hog, said apparatus comprising an elongate jaw-separating structure having upper and lower jaw-engaging surfaces for engagement, respectively, with the upper and lower jaws of the animals head, and with the head of the animal being inverted to dispose the lower jaw of the animal uppermost, said surfaces being first gradually longitudinally divergent from one end towards the other end of said jaw-engaging structure and cooperating with each other when the animals head is moved longitudinally along said structure to cause the upper and lower jaws to be progressively swung angularly apart and thereby rotate the mandibular condyles out of their respective joint cavities prior to complete separation of the lower jaw from the head, said jawseparating structure including elongate joint-spreading ing wing members extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof, said wing members being longitudinally divergent and cooperating with each other for applying lateral pressure on the eondylar joints and thereby spread the joints laterally apart simultaneously with angular swinging movement with upper and lower jaws, and driven mechanism disposed below said lower jaw-engaging surface for engaging the rear portion of an animals head to push the head for support thereof snout-first, longitudinally along said jaw-separating structure.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongate jaw-separating structure is inclined slightly from the horizontal.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and said driven mechanism comprising an endless carrier element having a flight thereof positioned in close substantially parallel relation to said lower jaw-engaging surface, a plurality of spaced, arcuately shaped pusher lugs projecting outwardly from said carrier element for engaging the rear portion of the head of an animal.

5. I aw pulling apparatus for use in separating the lower jaw of the head of an animal, such as a hog, said app-apatus comprising an elongate jaw-separating structure having a rear jaw-receiving portion and a firont jawseparating portion, said structure having jaw-engaging surfaces arranged in upper and lower relationship for engagement, respectively, with the lower and upper jaws of the ani-. mals head and with the head of the animal being inverted to dispose the lower jaw uppermost, said surface lacing longitudinally divergent and extending forwardly from said rear jaw-receiving portion to said front jaw separating portion, and cooperating with each other when the animals head is moved longitudinally along said structure to cause the upper and lower jaws to he progressively swung angularly apart and thereby rotate the mandibular condyles out of their respective joint cavities prior to complete separation of the lower jaw from the head, saidjaw separating structure including elongate jaw-separating, wing members extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof, said wings being longitudinally divergent and cooperating with each other for applying outward lateral pressure on the condylar joints to thereby spread the joints laterally apart simultaneously with angular swinging movement of vthe upper and lower jaws, means for moving the animals head along said rear jawreceiving portion towards said jaw-engaging surfaces, and mechanism positioned below said lower jaw-engaging surface for engaging the rear portion of the animals head for support thereof to push the head, snout-first, longitudinally along said jaw-separating structure.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said means comprises an endless carrier having a flight disposed in close proximity to said rear jaw-engaging portion and having a plurality of jaw-engaging fingers extending out- Wardly therefrom for engagement with the lower jaw bone to move the jaw bone, snout-first, longitudinally forwardly along said jaw-receiving portion.

7. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said mechanism comprises an endless carrier element having a flight thereof positioned in close substantially parallel relation to said lower jaw-engaging surface, a plurality of spaced pusher-lugs projecting laterally and outwardly from said carrier and being of arcuate configuration for engagement with the rear portion of the animals head.

Perrig-o June 28, 1910 Schmidt Jan. 9, 1940 

1. JAW PULLING APPARATUS FOR USE IN SEPARATING THE LOWER JAW FROM THE HEAD OF AN ANIMAL SUCH AS A HOG, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATE JAW-SEPARATING STRUCTURE HAVING JAW-ENGAGING SURFACES FOR ENGAGING, RESPECTIVELY, THE UPPER AND LOWER JAWS OF THE ANIMAL''S HEAD AND WITH THE ANIMAL''S HEAD BEING INVERTED TO DISPOSE THE LOWER JAW UPPERMOST, SAID SURFACES BEING FIRST GRADUALLY LONGITUDINALLY DIVERGENT FROM ONE END TOWARDS THE OTHER END OF SAID JAW-SEPARATING STRUCTURE AND COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE ANIMAL''S HEAD IS MOVED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID STRUCTURE TO CAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER JAWS TO BE PROGRESSIVELY SWUNG, ANGULARLY APART AND THEREBY ROTATE 